Natural light portrait of Chris “C.Slim” Stewart in a parking lot in West Hollywood.
When you have the power to stand up to people discriminating, don’t hesitate – do it!
With the current sad events and the entire USA in turmoil, a president doing everything to divide the people even more for his personal benefit, I learned the word “systemic racism” that seems so deeply engrained in the nations’s roots.
But let me start telling about Chris. I met Chris “C.Slim” Stewart in Los Angeles as my Uber driver taking me to train with WPPI / AIPP Grand Master Photographer Jerry Ghionis. I like to learn from my drivers about their origins, their views on life and their favourite activities. In Chris’ case I learned about his upbringing in North Carolina, as he and his brother were raised by their grandma, his passion for music and his plans to found a music label.
At one point, I could not resist telling him that his Uber profile pic sucked and to change his crappy selfie to a proper headshot. Since I already had my camera and nice Zeiss lenses with me, I suggested to offer Chris an impromptu headshot for his Uber profile. My plan was to do a quick session upon arrival. With lots of traffic on Venice Boulevard to West Hollywood, we were running behind schedule. To keep my promise, I literally jumped out of the car, asked Chris to stand in the shaded parking lot across the street from where I would meet the group. To my dismay, the entire shoot took less than 5 minutes. Wished I had some more time to improve the quality of the shoot and to control the light better.
Stand up to prejudices.
Watching the entire scene from across the street, the other participants wondered what I was doing. I told them my reason behind the photoshoot. To my greatest surprise, their words hammered a sad reality in my conscience expressing concerns about me photographing a black person who could have mugged me or worse…
As European, I was shocked learning about this way of thinking driven by fear! Hence, I did my best educating those people concerned about how WE ALL ARE ONE – regardless of the color of our skin, religion, nationality, the money in our bank accounts or the political beliefs.
I am not sure if that day I managed to change some deeply engrained views.
But hadn't I done this, I wouldn't have forgiven myself for not acting up.
Stand up for those in need.
Unfortunately, I have seen this happening again and again also in Europe, as the color of the skin seems to be such an easy target. When I was in high school a neighbour girl dated another boy from school. Beautiful couple – but with his Indian origins, although born and raised in Switzerland, they faced A LOT of racist comments everywhere they went. One day on the bus, while minding their business, one guy started to insult the couple with racial slurs. I started to defend the couple and after some heated arguments where other people started showing solidarity, and the help of the driver, we managed to kick this idiot out of the bus.
Stand up to those discriminating.
On another occasion, I was asked to paint a mural for a bar in the heart of the city. When I returned with my proposals, the owner and a staff member started talking racist slurs about the nation that my wife originally is from. I let them talk for a moment, but when they wouldn’t end their racist comments, I told them about my connection to this nation, gave them some education. Finally, told them I couldn’t tolerate such racist speech and wouldn’t be able working for them. Stood up and walked out of the joint, leaving behind a fun and well-paid job, which probably would have attracted more business.
Have I suffered from discrimination?
Yes absolutely, being bullied in school for having an accent from another part of Switzerland, which to some people sounded like I was a foreigner. Oh boy, I grew up with some really narrow-minded clowns around me.
But I have never suffered from being discriminated for the color of my skin. Hence I always found it easy to stand up to others without fear.
“Stand up as individual when needed, gather others and as community we can win the fight against racism and discrimination.”
Learning about the atrocities committed to minorities of different descent, it’s quite easy to apprehend the fear people of color and different ethnicities must be living in. While we can go ahead and mind our own business, it is inadmissible to see crimes against humanity committed day in and day out.
Hence, I strongly encourage you when needed STAND UP as individual, as community and bringing people together and helping and overcoming fears and prejudice. United we will be able to evolve from here, so that we will eradicate these horrendous acts that we had to witness. and create a better and world for our children.
Peace to all.
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